CENTRAL West put a stop to NSW Country Rugby Union juggernaut Newcastle Hunter on Sunday, claiming the 2014 Caldwell Cup in convincing style.
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After Central West jumped to a 21-0 lead in less than 25 minutes it was going to be tough for the six-time defending champions to mount a comeback. The Blue Bulls went on with the job to collect a 36-14 win at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium.
Central West coach, Bathurst-based, Matt McRobert described the win as “magic”.
“We’ve put a lot of time and effort in to this. Three years ago we were at the bottom of the Richardson Shield in sixth place and we had to work our way back up. We won the Richardson Shield last year and to win our first crack at the Caldwell Cup in a while, this year is a dream come true,” he said.
The Blue Bulls side, which included both Bathurst Bulldogs and CSU representatives, certainly gave Newcastle Hunter plenty to chase early in the first half.
Three minutes had passed when Central West’s Mahe Fangupo crossed for the first try and it wasn’t much later when Scott Burgess made a brilliant inside run to cross for the Blue Bulls.
Central West found space down their right-hand edge and Burgess scored his second after being on the end of a string of clever passes from Bathurst’s Phil Tonkin and Tom Joseph.
Known more recently for their great comebacks, Newcastle Hunter scored first in the second half through an under-the-posts try to Steve Lamont.
But when the golden boot of Burgess kicked a penalty goal to give Central West a 24-7 lead with 23 minutes remaining, the chance of Newcastle’s seventh straight Caldwell Cup title looked shaky.
It was all but out of reach when player of the series, Filisone Pauta, crossed for another try to Central West.
A late converted try to Newcastle’s Cal McDonald saved face, but then the Blue Bulls managed to score on the buzzer.
For Newcastle the challenge is now set.
“We were at the top and now we’re not. The representative program is getting harder and harder in Newcastle and there’s is a lot of hurdles put on players to represent,” Beckett said.
McRobert said the win was years in the making.
“We thought about it a lot. We planned a lot and worked very hard for it. It paid dividends and it’s just magic. I’m so satisfied with what we’ve done,” McRobert said.
“We’re here because of teams like Newcastle. A dynasty like they’ve had gives teams something to look forward and aspire to. If you’re fair dinkum about rugby you want to beat sides like Newcastle, so we owe them a debt of gratitude. To beat them convincingly in the final is just wonderful.
“The players deserve it. Coaching and management staff deserve it and the board deserve it. It’s a reflection of the high standard Central West Rugby is at the moment. To win seniors and colts on our own paddock in Mudgee is just great.
“Having blokes like Josh Tremain and Mesui Lomoto around just to provide calm and control was great and the direction they gave us was a telling factor.”
CENTRAL WEST 36 (Mahe Fangupo, Scott Burgess 2, Filisone Pauta tries; Scott Burgess 4 goals, Scott Burgess penalty goal) defeated NEWCASTLE HUNTER 14 (Steve Lamont, Cal McDonald tries; Brendan Holliday 2 goals)